Clinical Trials, U.S.: Stroke

Ischemic stroke occurs due to blockage in blood flow due to a clot or narrowing in an artery. Brain cells deprived of oxygen normally die within minutes. Stroke is one of the most common causes of death in the United States, with over 750,000 cases per year. More commonly, it leads to permanent debilitation. Today, the most widely used treatments are various medications (thrombolytic agents: tPA) and endovascular interventions, often combined with physical and/or speech therapy. With the exception of rehabilitation therapy, very few treatments are available to improve the chronic neurologic deficits caused by a stroke. In addition to medication and physical therapy, there is promising research on the benefits of stem cell treatments for stroke victims. Some stem cell treatments would facilitate or ...